one day of childcare melbourne, am I deluded?

[HarveyBub'sMum]

Hi

All advice appreciated here. I have an 18 month old who I now want to place in day care one day per week, other days are covered by my husband, myself and my mum and dad.

I thought (maybe misguidedly) that one day might not be too bad to find, given he could just slot in on a quiet day. but have a lot of centres say that they have a two day minimum or are don't have anything available.

Please let me know if I am kidding myself as don't want to extend my days at work until I am sure I can get a place.

thanks chix
Jx

[Pandora]

my centre has 1 day a week, thats what both my boys will be having next year.

FDC might also be an option?

[Sammiejane]

I was going to suggest FDC too, MJ is in care only one day a week and its FDC, it was too hard to find somewhere that could only offer just one day (plus they prefer kids to be there more frequently.
It works for us.
Where abouts are you?

[shellbell3]

I hadn't heard of that, maybe thats why I've been waiting so long for a day for DD1!
Like suggested look into FDC otherwise ring centres, see what there waiting lists are like. Usually the big turn over time is January so I'd call up now and get an idea of where you'd be on there list.

[luna moth]

Not deluded at all... unless you're not on any waiting lists. In which case, you'll be lucky to get anything in the inner suburbs.
One day a week is usually pretty easy to land. In the centre I manage, most families from the waiting list get offered a one-day position first, and extend from there.
If you can be flexible about which day of the week you'll take, your chances may be better.

[HarveyBub'sMum]

Thanks everyone,

Sammie I'm in west footscray but I'm keen to put him in at the CBD so we can see him for lunch when he's a little older and won't get upset when we leave again.

Snuggly I was aiming for a specific day but I could be more flexible and see if that would help, great idea.

I think the FDC idea is a very good one, I will ring up and see what is available. Thanks Ray and everyone.

Shell, sounds like you and me will be hitting the phones! I'll also get a bit more strategic about wait listing, Lots of emails coming up!

[Nai]

City ones tend to have a 2 day minimum and they are are very expensive. I know that Kensington Community Children's Co-op allows children to do 1 day only so that might be an option.

[shellbell3]

If you accept any day to begin with just to get your foot in the door then you can put down a specific day. And when that day comes available you will get preference over someone else on the waiting list.

[Pandora]

theres a daycare opening (or may be open already) at the western/whitton oval? I think ECMS are managing it -they may have 1 day places?

[Crystalwings]

At my centre we have concidered having a 2 day minimum for 2 yr olds as sometimes they can be very hard to settle with only one day. One day a week can feel like forever with a toddler and the settling in process can take a really long time for some children with separation anxiety.
Maybe you could ask the centre's with a 2 day minimum if you can reduce back to one day when your Lo is settled?

[Rainbow_Mumma]

Thanks everyone,

Sammie I'm in west footscray

My daughter used to go to Little VIP's in Maidstone just off Ballarat Road close to is it Gordon street or something (the one that goes up to highpoint) they were very flexible with days, LOVELY people and very reasonably priced i would suggest giving them a call and speaking to Tanya (the director) about options there